Single shaft driven multiple output vehicle

ABSTRACT

A vehicle comprising a frame with an electric power source secured to the frame. The vehicle further comprises an electric motor driven by the electric power source and secured to a deck and having at least a first side and a second side formed opposite the first side. The vehicle has a first shaft located within the electric motor housing and driven by the electric motor, the first shaft has a first end, which extends from the electric motor housing first side, and a second end, which extends from the electric motor housing second end. The vehicle further comprises a first output assembly driven by the first end of the first shaft and a second output assembly driven by the second end of the first shaft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to vehicles, in particular, vehicles having multiple outputs driven by a single shaft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A vehicle having multiple outputs driven by a single shaft is disclosed herein. The details of the invention are set forth below in connection with the detailed description of the embodiments.

A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from the following detailed descriptions and accompanying drawings, which set forth illustrative embodiments that are indicative of the various ways in which the principals of the invention may be employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view along the lines 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Turning now to the figures, where like reference numerals refer to like elements, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 an exemplary vehicle 10, having a pair of driving wheels 34 and a pair of steering wheels 32. Vehicle 10 is driven by prime mover 24, which is attached to frame 38 of vehicle 10. Prime mover 24 may be drivingly connected by way of a transmission (not shown) to driving wheels 34 through axle shafts 12 and 14. One such type of transmission may be a hydrostatic transmission. Hydrostatic transmissions are well-known throughout the industry and therefore will not be discussed in detail. The elements of a typical hydrostatic transmission are described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,122,996, which is incorporated herein by reference. Also, it will be appreciated by those in the art that the scope of the present invention includes a vehicle such as vehicle 10 that is driven by any known means other than a hydrostatic transmission, such as a mechanical transmission, an electric motor or a hydraulic motor.

Vehicle 10 also comprises output 40. In the depicted embodiment, output 40 is a mower deck, although it will be appreciated in the art that the scope of the present invention includes various other types of outputs.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, output 40 comprises electric motor 16, which is attached to deck 36. Single shaft 18 extends from opposing sides of electric motor 16. Electric motor 16 is powered by electric power source 20, which is secured to vehicle 10. Electric power source 20 is attached to the electric motor by wire 22. Electric power source 20 may be a battery, generator, or any other known means of power generation, all of which are well known in the art. Moreover, electric motors, such as electric motor 16, are also well known in the industry. As such, the specific features of both electric power source 20 and electric motor 16 are not discussed in detail herein.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 2, output 40 further comprises a pair of output assemblies 42 a and 42 b. In the depicted embodiment, the elements of output assemblies 42 a and 42 b are generally identical, and only output assembly 42 a will be described in detail. However, it will be appreciated that the description of output assembly 42 a will apply equally to the description of the elements of output assembly 42 b. Furthermore, it will also be obvious that the scope of the present invention includes an embodiment in which the elements of output assemblies 42 a and 42 b are not identical.

Output assembly 42 a comprises gear housing 50 a, which is located on and secured to deck 36. Input shaft 52 a is rotatably secured in gear housing 50 a. In the depicted embodiment, input shaft 52 a is secured in gear housing 50 a by bearing 51 a, but it will be appreciated that the scope of the present invention includes any known means of rotatably securing input shaft 52 a. Input bevel gear 54 a is secured to input shaft 52 a at a first end thereof. The second end of input shaft 52 a extends from gear housing 50 a and is coupled to and driven by single shaft 18 at a first end thereof. Coupler 56 a couples the second end of input shaft 52 a with the first end of single shaft 18.

Output shaft 58 a is also rotatably secured within gear housing 50 a. Output bevel gear 60 a is located at the first end of output shaft 58 a. Output bevel gear 60 a is engaged to and driven by input bevel gear 54 a.

The second end of output shaft 58 a extends from gear housing 50 a into deck 36. Mower blade 62 a is located within deck 36 and attached to and driven by the second end of output shaft 58 a.

A second embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in FIG. 3. In the second embodiment, single shaft 118 extends from opposing sides of electric motor 116. As seen, single shaft 118 comprises a first end 120 a, which extends into gear housing 150 a, and a second end 120 b, which extends into gear housing 150 b. As in the first embodiment, the depicted second embodiment includes identical elements in output assemblies 142 a and 142 b, and therefore, only output assembly 142 a will be described in detail. It will also be obvious that the scope of the present invention includes an embodiment in which the elements of output assemblies 142 a and 142 b are not identical.

Input bevel gear 154 a is secured to first end 120 a. Output shaft 158 a is rotatably secured within gear housing 150 a. Output bevel gear 160 a is located at the first end of output shaft 158 a. Output bevel gear 160 a is engaged to and driven by input bevel gear 154 a.

The second end of output shaft 158 a extends from gear housing 150 a into deck 136. Mower blade 162 a is located within deck 136 and attached to and driven by the second end of output shaft 158 a.

Note that, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, mower blade 62 b overlaps mower blade 62 a and mower blade 162 b overlaps mower blade 162 a. Because a single shaft, either single shaft 18 or single shaft 118, drives the mower blades, the orientation of mower blade 62 b or mower blade 162 b with respect to mower blade 62 a or mower blade 162 a may be fixed so that, for example, when mower blade 62 b is positioned as shown in FIG. 2 mower blade 62 a will be oriented at an angle with respect to mower blade 62 b. Fixing the orientation of mower blade 62 b or 162 b with respect to mower blade 62 a or 162 a allows the two mower blades to mesh. Mesh in this context means to travel at least partially in the same volume or space without danger of the blades striking each other. Mower blades driven by belts or by separate drive motors cannot be configured to guarantee a specific orientation of two blades with respect to each other because, for example, belts may slip, or synchronization of two different motors is difficult or impossible to maintain, and thus meshing is not permitted. Designs where mower blades are driven by belts or by separate motors position the blades so that the blades appear to overlap when viewed from the side, but the blades are actually offset from each other to prevent the blades from meshing.

In the embodiments shown, the left mower blade will move in an opposite direction of rotation from the right mower blade. A person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the bevel gears in one of the output assemblies may be repositioned to permit the left mower blade and the right mower blade to move in the same direction of rotation. Thus, varying orientations of bevel gears is anticipated as an obvious variation of the present invention.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any equivalent thereof. 

1. A vehicle capable of operating in at least a first direction of travel, the vehicle comprising: a frame; an electric power source secured to the frame; an electric motor driven by the electric power source and positioned within an electric motor housing, the electric motor housing secured to a deck and comprising at least a first lateral side parallel to the first direction of travel, and a second lateral side parallel to the first direction of travel and formed opposite the first lateral side; a motor shaft located within and extending through the electric motor housing, the motor shaft driven by the electric motor and comprising a first end, which extends from the first lateral side of the electric motor housing, and a second end, which extends from the second lateral side of the electric motor housing; a first output shaft driven by the first end of the motor shaft, the first output shaft positioned external to the electric motor housing and perpendicular to the motor shaft; a second output shaft driven by the second end of the motor shaft, the second output shaft positioned external to the electric motor housing and perpendicular to the motor shaft; a first mower blade having a first mower blade axis of rotation and driven by the first output shaft; and a second mower blade having a second mower blade axis of rotation and driven by the second output shaft, wherein the first mower blade axis of rotation and the second mower blade axis of rotation are perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the motor shaft; and wherein the first mower blade and the second mower blade are meshed and have a fixed orientation with respect to each other.
 2. The vehicle as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a first output assembly comprising: a first gear box secured to the deck; and a first input shaft having a first end, which extends from the first gear box and engages the first end of the motor shaft, and a second end comprising a first input bevel gear attached thereto; the first output shaft having a first end, which extends from the first gear box through the deck, and a second end comprising a first output bevel gear attached thereto, wherein the first input bevel gear is engaged to the first output bevel gear.
 3. The vehicle as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a second output assembly comprises: a second gear box secured to the deck; and a second input shaft having a first end, which extends from the second gear box and engages the second end of the motor shaft, and a second end comprising a second input bevel gear attached thereto; the second output shaft having a first end, which extends from the second gear box through the deck, and a second end comprising a second output bevel gear attached thereto, wherein the second input bevel gear is engaged to the second output bevel gear.
 4. The vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electric power source is a battery.
 5. The vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electric power source is a generator.
 6. The vehicle as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a prime mover for driving the vehicle, wherein the first mower blade and the second mower blade are driven solely by the electric motor.
 7. A vehicle capable of operating in at least a first direction of travel, the vehicle comprising: a frame having a deck attached thereto; a prime mover disposed on the frame; a pair of driving wheels attached to the vehicle and driven by the prime mover; a pair of steering wheels attached to the vehicle; an electric power source disposed on the vehicle; an electric motor powered by the electric power source and disposed in an electric motor housing disposed on the deck, the electric motor housing having a first lateral side, formed parallel to the first direction of travel, and a second lateral side, formed parallel to and opposite the first lateral side; a motor shaft driven by the electric motor and having a first end extending from the first lateral side of the electric motor housing and a second end extending from the second lateral side of the electric motor housing, the motor shaft having a motor shaft axis of rotation that is parallel to the deck; a first output shaft having a proximal end engaged to and driven by the first end of the motor shaft, and a distal end that extends through the deck, the first output shaft positioned external to the electric motor housing and having an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the motor shaft axis of rotation; and a second output shaft having a proximal end engaged to and driven by the second end of the motor shaft, and a distal end that extends through the deck, the second output shaft positioned external to the electric motor housing and having an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the motor shaft axis of rotation; a first mower blade attached to the distal end of the first output shaft; a second mower blade attached to the distal end of the second output shaft; and wherein the first mower blade and the second mower blade are meshed and have a fixed orientation with respect to each other.
 8. The vehicle as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first mower blade and the second mower blade travel at least partially in a common space.
 9. The vehicle as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first mower blade and the second mower blade rotate in opposite directions.
 10. The vehicle as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first mower blade and the second mower blade rotate in a plane, and wherein the axis of rotation of the first output shaft and the axis of rotation of the second output shaft are perpendicular to the plane and to the axis of rotation of the motor shaft.
 11. The vehicle as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first mower blade and the second mower blade are driven solely by the electric motor.
 12. The vehicle as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a first input bevel gear attached to the first end of the motor shaft, the first input bevel gear engaged to and driving a first output bevel gear attached to the proximal end of the first output shaft.
 13. The vehicle as set forth in claim 12, further comprising a second input bevel gear attached to the second end of the motor shaft, the second input bevel gear engaged to and driving a second output bevel gear attached to the proximal end of the second output shaft. 